Colorado’s decision this weekend to bump forward the date of its caucuses doesn’t immediately change anything for Iowa, but party officials here say they will, if necessary, move Iowa’s date forward to preserve its first-in-the-nation status.

Matt Strawn (Register file photo)

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn said this morning: “The four sanctioned early states have been very clear that we’ll move together if necessary to ensure integrity of order as outlined in (Republican National Committee) rules.

“Thus, the date of the Iowa caucuses may change, but its lead-off position will not. I remain cautiously optimistic that we can avoid having Iowans caucus while simultaneously wrapping Christmas presents.”

The Colorado Republican Central Committee voted Saturday to push the caucuses a month earlier to Feb. 7, the Associated Press reported. It was previously set for March 6.

Iowa’s is currently penciled in for Feb. 6.

Colorado Republicans hope the earlier date will give their state more prominence in the 2012 presidential campaign.

This Saturday is the Republican National Committee’s deadline for states to schedule their caucuses or primaries.